Aleksey Bugaev: Russian footballer’s spiralling story ends with death in Ukraine

Once one of the most talented defenders in Russia, Bugaev opted to fight in war rather than serve long prison sentence

Aleksey Bugayev of Russia during the UEFA Euro 2004 match against Portugal at Estadio Da Luz on June 16, 2004 in Lisbon, Portugal. Picture: Michael Mayhew/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images

Faced with a severe shortage of soldiers for the war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin’s Russia started recruiting convicted criminals from prisons. A person can be immediately pardoned by the president just for agreeing to fight – and it does not matter how dangerous they are.

The worst of murderers and rapists are able to get out and then hailed as national heroes by authorities. There are also criminals who have committed lesser crimes who are ready to gamble on their lives for freedom.